Roll sheet support

ABSTRACT

A paper roll support made up of two roll members spaced from each other a distance less than the diameter of a roll of paper to be supported. Each roll is rotatable about an axis parallel to the other. Each roll has a pulley attached to one end and a belt is placed around the pulleys. The roll of paper can be supported on top of the two rolls with its central axis parallel to the central axis of the rolls with the free end of the paper on the roll extending down between the two rolls so that the roll of paper is carried on the rolls on roller bearings. The roll of paper rotates the two rollers as the paper is unrolled from the roll. The paper can be rolled up by pulling an endless belt that passes over pulleys connected to the rollers.

United States Patent [191 Woelky [4 1 Oct. 14, 1975 ROLL SHEET SUPPORT [75] Inventor: Conrad G. Woelky, Erie, Pa.

[73] Assignee: The BB Paper & Specialty Company, Erie, Pa.

22 Filed: Mar. 29, 1974 21- Appl. No.: 456,138

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 355,805, April 30,

1973, abandoned.

Primary Examiner-Edward .1. McCarthy [5 7] ABSTRACT A paper roll support made up of two roll members spaced from each other a distance less than the diameter of a roll of paper to be supported. Each roll is rotatable about an axis parallel to the other. Each roll has a pulley attached to one end and a belt is placed around the pulleys. The roll of paper can be supported on top of the two rolls with its central axis parallel to the central axis of the rolls with the free end of the paper on the,,roll extending down between the two rolls so that the roll of paper is carried on the rolls on roller bearings. The roll of paper rotates the two rollers as the paper is unrolled from the roll. The paper can be rolled up by pulling an endless belt that passes over pulleys connected to the rollers.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 14,1975 Sheet1of2 3,912,187

m: in i! U.S. Patent 0a. 14, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,912,187

[FIGT ROLL SHEET SUPPORT REFERENCE TO PENDING APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of and now abandoned patent application, Ser. No. 355,805, filed Apr. 30, 1973.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF INVENTION In decorating rooms for Displays and Backgrounds for Photography it is also desirable to be able to pull down a large sheet of paper from the ceiling 107 inches wide or larger. It is then often desirable to be able to roll up the sheet of paper after it has been used. Applicant has discovered that it is possible to handle large rolls of paper; for example, a roll weighing several hundred pounds, by supporting the roll on two rollers spaced from each other a distance less than the paper roll diameter and on parallel axes and to reroll this roll of paper simply by pulling on a belt, cord or chain around a pulley attached to each end of the roll.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide an improved paper support apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a paper support apparatus that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and simple and efficient to use. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved paper support roll device for supporting and dispensing decorative paper and the like.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the fonn, size, proportions, and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an end view of the paper roll support according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the support shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view showing the paper roll supported according to the invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the bracket supporting the rolls.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the bracket supporting the rolls.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Now with more particular reference to the drawings, the paper roll 21 is shown supported on the two spaced rollers 10 and 11. The rollers 10 and 11 have plugs in each end with an axle extending on each plug. These axles are received in bearing openings in brackets 16 and 17. A pulley 18 is fixed to the shaft 12 and a pulley 19 is fixed to the axle 13. The pulleys may be of the V- belt type and an endless belt 20 passes around pulleys 18 and 19 and has a substantial slack portion extending below said pulleys. When the operator pulls on the end 22 of the roll 21, the roll 21 will rotate the rollers 10 and 11 so that the rollers free wheel and, therefore, freely unroll the paper. If the operator desires to reroll the paper, he merely pulls on one end of the belt 20 and this rotates the rollers through pulleys 18 and 19 and rerolls the paper.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rolls and 111 are shown supported on axles 112, 113, 114 and 115 respectively. The ends of these shafts or axles are received in brackets 116 and 117 and the rollers 110 and 111 are freely rotatable thereon. The rollers 110 and 111 can be rotated in either direction by means of the endless belt 120, which passes around the pulleys 118 and 119 and around the idler pulley 121. Idler pulley 121 maintains a greater length of belt 120 in contact with rollers 110 and 111. Thus, a greater length of the belt 120 engages the pulleys 118 and 119 than in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This is important in large roll operation.

Referring to FIGS. v5 and 6, they show two spaced brackets 216 supporting two spaced rolls 210 and 21 1. The rolls 210 and 211 have axle members at each end which are shown in FIG. 5 supported in slots 214 and 215 in flanges 216. I

Each of the flanges 216 is made of a platelike member bent at right angles forming the plate portion 222 and the flange 223. The rollers each have a pulley, such as pulley 18 andpulley 19 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, which are engaged by a continuous cord 228.

The brackets can be used to support two rollers vertically, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, by supporting the flange 223 on a ceiling and allowing the platelike portion 222 to extend downward. The roll of paper 224 would be supported on the rollers 210 and 211 which have axles entending axially outward and engage the slots 230 and 231. Slots 230 and 231 are disposed at an angle of approximately 30 to the horizontal and they both extend downward toward the end 233 from the sides 234 and 235 and terminate at equally spaced distance from the end 233.

When the plates 216 are attached to a wall as in FIG. 1, they may be attached thereto by suitable screws 236 and 237. The flanges can likewise be supported on the ceiling by screws 238 and 239.

When the brackets 216 are supported to a wall as shown in FIG. 5, the axles of the rollers 210 and 211 are received in slots 214 and 215. Slot 214 extends from side 235 at approximately midpoint between the flange and the end 233 to a point approximately equal to the center line of the plate 216. The slot 215 extends from the end 233 toward the center and toward the flange 223 and terminates approximately the center of the plates 216. Thus the brackets can be used to support the rollers from the ceiling or from a wall. By operating the cord 228, the roll of paper 221 can be rolled or unrolled.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A paper roll support made up of two spaced roller members,

said roller members having their longitudinal axes disposed in generally parallel relation with each other,

a roll of sheet material supported on said roller members with the axis of said roll of sheet material being generally parallel to the axis of said'rollers,

siad roll of sheet material having a diameter greater than the spacing of said rollers,

each said roller having a shaft extending from each of its ends,

a first bracket and a second bracket,

said brackets receiving the ends of said shafts whereby said rollers are supported in parallel relation with each other,

said brackets having means thereon for attaching them to a support member adjacent a ceiling of a room,

a first pulley fixed to said frist roll,

and a second pulley fixed to said second roll,

and an endless belt passing around and engaging the periphery of said pulleys and having a substantial slack portion extending below said pulleys,

said belt extending down a substantial distance from said pulleys whereby said rolls may be rotated by pulling said belt,

to reroll and to unroll siad paper an operator can pull on said belt below the other said pulley.

2. The roll support recited in claim 1 wherein a third pulley is spaced below said first pulley and said second pulley, the axis of said third pulley being parallel to the axes of said first pulley and said second pulley,

said belt passing over said first pulley and under said third pulley and over said second pulley whereby said rolls my be rotated.

3. A pair of rollers for supporting a roll of paper comprising a pair of rollers and two brackets for supporting said rollers in spaced relation to each other whereby said roll of paper can rest on top of said rollers and the paper extend downward between said rollers,

cord means extending over the ends of said rollers for driving said rollers,

a bracket,

said bracket being made of a plate bent at right angles to form a flange and a plate portion,

said plate portion being generally rectangular and having an end opposite generally parallel to said flange, and two spaced sides perpendicular to said flange,

means supporting said flange to a support member,

each said plate having two first slots, one said slot extending from the first side of said plate portion downwardly and toward said end and terminating at a position spaced from the center line of said plate portion, and the second slot extending from the opposite side of said plate portion downward and toward said end,

a third slot extending from a first side of said plate portion adjacent said flange toward said second end and terminating adjacent the center of said plate portion,

a fourth slot extending from said end toward said flange and toward the center of said plate portion,

said first slot and said second slot being adapted to receive the axles of said rollers when said brackets are attached to a ceiling,

said third slot and said fourth slot being adapted to accept the axles of said rollers when said brackets are attached to a wall. 

1. A paper roll support made up of two spaced roller members, said roller members having their longitudinal axes disposed in generally parallel relation with each other, a roll of sheet material supported on said roller members with the axis of said roll of sheet material being generally parallel to the axis of said rollers, siad roll of sheet material having a diameter greater than the spacing of said rollers, each said roller having a shaft extending from each of its ends, a first bracket and a second bracket, said brackets receiving the ends of said shafts whereby said rollers are supported in parallel relation with each other, said brackets having means thereon for attaching them to a support member adjacent a ceiling of a room, a first pulley fixed to said frist roll, and a second pulley fixed to said second roll, and an endless belt passing around and engaging the periphery of said pulleys and having a substantial slack portion extending below said pulleys, said belt extending down a substantial distance from said pulleys whereby said rolls may be rotated by pulling said belt, to reroll and to unroll siad paper an operator can pull on said belt below the other said pulley.
 2. The roll support recited in claim 1 wherein a third pulley is spaced below said first pulley and said second pulley, the axis of said third pulley being parallel to the axes of said first pulley and said second pulley, said belt passing over said first pulley and under said third pulley and over said second pulley whereby said rolls my be rotated.
 3. A pair of rollers for supporting a roll of paper comprising a pair of rollers and two brackets for supporting said rollers in spaced relation to each other whereby said roll of paper can rest on top of said rollers and the paper extend downward between said rollers, cord means extending over the ends of said rollers for driving said rollers, a bracket, said bracket being made of a plate bent at right angles to form a flange and a plate portion, said plate portion being generally rectangular and having an end opposite generally parallel to said flange, and two spaced sides perpendicular to said flange, means supporting said flange to a support member, each said plate having two first slots, one said slot extending from the first side of said plate portion downwardly and toward said end and terminating at a position spaced from the center line of said plate portion, and the second slot extending from the opposite side of said plate portion downward and toward said end, a third slot extending from a first side of said plate portion adjacent said flange toward said second end and terminating adjacent the center of said plate portion, a fourth slot extending from said end toward said flange and toward the center of said plate portion, said first slot and said second slot being adapted to receive the axles of said rollers when said brackets are attached to a ceiling, said third slot and said fourth slot being adapted to accept the axles of said rollers when said brackets are attached to a wall. 